Fuel-gas generator



(No Mbdel.)

' I 3 sheets-sheet 1. J. 'R.- "PETERS;

FUEL GAS GENERATORi Patent d Aug. 13. 1 88 9..

, ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.)

7 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. R. PETERS. FUEL GAS GENERATOR.

Patented Aug. 13, 1889..

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I WITNESSES:

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N) PETERS MW". Vluhinlww, D. O- l (No Model.) 3 sheetssheet 3.

- J.R.PETERS.

FUEL GAS GENERATOR.

Patented Aug. 13, 1 889,

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INVENTOR:

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JOHN R. PETERS, OF GEORGETOWVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FUEL-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,062, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed December 20, 1887- Serial No. 258,436. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. PETERS, of Georgetown, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Fuel-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of myimproved fuel-gas generator. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken on a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1, showing the regenerator in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the regenerator, taken on line a: w in Fig. 2. Fig. at is a plan view, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line y y in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in all the views.

My invention relates to that class of f urnaces or generators employed in producing fuel-gas to be used for puddling or welding iron, melting steel, glass, dzc, and for general heating and illuminating purposes.

The object of my invention is to construct a simple generator having a continuous action that will produce a uniform product at a minimum of cost.

My invention consists in the constulction and combinations of'parts, as will be herein after fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The body of the generator consists of a rectangular iron casing A, mounted on posts B and provided with a lining G of fire-brick. In the bottom of the body A is placed a set of hollow perforated air-pipes D, consisting of the longitudinal air-pipes a and the rectangular hollow frame I), communicating with all of the pipes a, the opposite sides of the pipes and the inner sides of the hollow frame being perforated to allow the passage of the air and steam through the walls of the pipes and frame.

With one sideof the frame b is connected a pipe E, which communicates, through the pipe F, with the positive blower G. The said blower is of the'ordinary well-known type,

and therefore requires no description. In the pipe E is inserted a stea1n-pipe H, the inner end of which is curved over toward the airpipe D. Below the air-pipes D is suspended in g rollers d.

a hopper I, of v shaped section, in which are journaled two shafts a, carrying clinker-break- The upper part of the hopper I is provided with a linings of fire-brick, and to the supports f of the fire-brick are hinged gratps J, which extend partly over the rollers c.

The grates extend parallel with the rollers at an incline thereto, and their inner or free ends extend to about the longitudinal centers thereof. The center of the fire-bed will therefore be between the two rollers. The rollers have tap pets (1. at or near their ends, which strike the free ends of the grates, causing them to be vibrated vertically, thereby causing the ashes to fall through the grates to the bottom of the hopper and through the opening 1'. The clinker will, however, ride down the grates and into the space between the rolls and be crushed prior to its delivery to the opening 6 and chambered valve K, thus preventing the clogging of the.valve, as would be the case if uncrushed pieces were delivered thereto.

The lower angle of the hopperlis provided with a longitudinal opening g, below which is supported a valve-casing h by attachment to flanges formed on the lower part of the hop per. The interior of the valve-casing is cylindrical, and in the top and bottom of the said casing are formed longitudinal slots 2', corresponding in size to the opening 9 in the bottom of the hopper I.

I11 the valve-casing h is journaled a shaft j, carrying a valve K, provided with four radials ribs 70, with corresponding intermediate segmental spaces Z, the said valve fitting into the casing with sufficient accuracy to prevent any material escape of gas in that direction.

The top L of the generator is provided with openings m, which are closed by covers 02, the said openings being provided for starting a fire in the generator and for introducing the first supply of fuel. In the top of the iron case are also formed small openings 0, through which a poker is introduced whenever it is desired to stir up the fire or break the crust from above the air-pipes. ends of the hopper 1, below the air-pipes D, are formed openings 19, which are also intended for the introduction of the poker for In the v adjusting the fire. The openings 0 p are provided with stoppers for closing the said holes when the apparatus is working normally.

In the top L of the generator, between the openings m, is formed a transverse slotq, over which is placed the hollow support '7' of the valve-casing 7i. The valve-casing 71. and the valve K are of the same construction as the valve-casing 7t and the valve K, and will therefore need no further description. The valve K is mounted upon .a shaft j, which extends through the ends of the casing 7t, and upon the top of the casing h is mounted a hopper M, for receiving the fuel to be supplied to the generator through the valve K. Upon the shaftj, outside of the valve-casing h, is fixed a ratchet-wheel s, and outside of the ratchet-wheel, upon the same shaft, is mounted a right-angled lever N, carrying a pawl I", which engages the ratchet-wheel s.

The arm 0 of the lever N is slotted to re ceive a sliding block a, which is moved up and down in the slot by a screw y, journaled in the said slotted arm. To the sliding block 1! is pivotally connected the eccentric-rod a, which is provided with an eccentric-strap a, embracing an eccentric Z) on the shaft 0, the said shaft being journaled in brackets d, attached to the side of the generator-casing. Upon the shaft 0 is mounted a large pulley I, which receives motion through a belt 6 from a small pulley upon the shaft of the engine Q. To the arm f of the rightangled lever N is pivoted a connecting-rod g, which extends downward and is pivotally connected to an arm R, mounted loosely on the shaft j of the valve K and carrying a pawl i, which engages a ratchet-wheel secured to the shaft j. To the arm f of the right-angled lever N is also pivoted a connecting-rod Z, which is pivotally connected with the lever S, mounted loosely on the shaft 0 of one of the clinker crushing rollers (I and carrying a pawl on, which engages a ratchetwvheel 0, fixed to the said shaft. The shafts of the clinker-crushing rolls are connected by spurwheels of different diameters, which impart to the rolls a differential motion which causes them to grind as well as crush the clinkers. The arm f of the right-angled lever N and the levers R S are provided with series of holes for shifting the connectingrods, so as to change the leverage and vary the movement of the levers and of the parts moved thereby.

In the body of the generator is inserted a gas-outlet pipe T, which is curved downward at the center of the generator and provided with a llarin g mouth 1), opening downwardly. \Vhere the generator employed in making gas for use in its immediate vicinity, the gas is conducted directly from the pipe T to. the place of use; but when the gas to be used at a distance, and requires cooling before being conducted away, a regenerator U is connected with the pipe T, which serves the double purpose of cooling the gas and condensin g and removing the vapors therefrom and of heating the air used to support combustion in the generator. The regenerator U is formed of a cylindrical central portion q, having enlargements r at opposite ends and apertured heads .9, in which are inserted tubes t. The apertured head s,adjoining the generator, is covered by a conical cap \V, which communicates directly with the pipe T, and the opposite end is covered in a similar mannerby a conical cap \V, which is connected with the gas-conduit V, leading to the distant place or places of use. The space a, surrounding the tubes t in the regenerator, receives air under pressure through the pipe F from the pressure-blower G, and the pipe A, connected with the opposite end of the regencrator, communicates with the pipe E.

The operation of my improved generator is as follows: A fire hav ng been started on the grate D, pulverized bituminous coal is introduced into the generator through the holes on until the body of the generator is practically full of fuel. The holes on are closed and the engine Q is started. The blower G (which is driven by belt-connections from the engine through the counter-shaft G) supplies a continuous forced blast of air through the fire throughthe hollow perforated air-pipes and frame. At the same time steam is allowed to flow into the pipe leading from the blower to the perforated air-pipes, through the steampipe H, to cool the air-pipes, increase the pro duciion, and improve the quality of the gases made. At the same time a slow intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the valves K K and the clinker-crushing rollers (I through the pawl-and-ratehet devices already described. This operation maintains the supply of fuel, the valve K during its rotation taking small quantities of pulverized fuel from the hopper H and discharging tllem into the gas-gen crater chamber. The gas or gases resulting from the imperfect combustion of the fuel and from the decomposition of the steam or water introdueed into the generator pass out through the pipe T to be used either while hotor after passing through the coolingprocess in the regenerator.

It found desirable, I may introduce water into the generator along with the pulverized fuel, or I may introduce hydrocarbons with the fuel to enrich the gas.

The ashes resulting from the eomlmslion of the coal drop into the hopper I and are slowly discharged by the valve K. ers which will not readily pass through the grates J are crushed by the rollers (I.

By arranging the flaring mouth of the gasoutlet pipe centrally in the generator, where it is surrounded by the incandescent fuel, the gas formed below the pipe will find a ready escape, while the hydrocarbon and watery vapor formed in the upper partof the generator will be compelled to pass through the incandescent fuel and be converted into permanent fuel-gas before it can enter the outlet-pipe.

Any (:1 i 11 k The pulverized fuel above the valve K forms a seal to the said valve, which assists in retaining the products of combustion within the body of the generator, and in'like manner the ashes in the hopper I act as a seal to the valve K.

It will be observed that my improved apparatus differs from others in being regular and continuous in its action. Air under pressure is constantly supplied by the blower G, and the ashes are removed by the valve K as fast as they are formed. The separation of the ashes and clinkers is effected by the jarring of the grates J caused by their contact with the projections or tappets a on and near the ends of the clinker-crushing rollers.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the gas-generator, of perforated air-supply pipes extending transversely into and across the fuel-space above the bed or grate, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, With the fuel-receptacle, of a hollow air-supplying frame fitting therein across the fuel-space above the bed or grate and perforated on its inner sides, and the spaced perforated pipes within said frame and communicating with the interior thereof, whereby air may be delivered through and around the entire mass of incandescent fuel as it descends through the spaces between the several pipes, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the gas-tight generator having a central gas-discharging outlet-pipe, a hollow perforated frame having spaced perforated pipes within and crossing the fuel-space in said generator, and a pressure-blower for forcing air through the perforations in said frame into all parts of the descendin g fuel, of a grate below the said frame and within the lower end of. the gas-tight generator and a gas-tight discharge-valve at the bottom of the generator below the grate, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,witl1 the generator having a gas-tight receptacle provided with a V- shaped lower end, of parallel crushing-rollers journaled longitudinally in said lower end, space being left between the outer sides of rollers and inclined bottom for the passage of ashes, and grates extending to the upper sides of said rollers from the inclined bottom across the said ash-passages to direct the clinkers downward between the adjacent crushingfaces of the said rollers, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the inclined or V-shaped bottom having a rotary gas-tight chambered discharge-valve at its vertex, of the crushing-rollers above the valve and the grates above and at opposite sides of the rollers, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the parallel rotary crushing-rollers having tappets, of two grates fulcrumed at their outer ends above and parallel with the rollers, the inner or free ends of the grates extending over the rolls in the paths of their t-appets, whereby the grates will be vibrated vertically to discharge the ashes and conduct the clinkers to the space between the rolls, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the gas-tight generator, of a cylindrical casing at the upper end thereof, a similar casing in the bottom under the grate, said casings having verticallyaligned longitudinally-extending inlet and outlet slots or openings, and a rotary cylindrical valve closely fitting each of said cylinders to prevent the escape of gas and having a series of chambers extending in the direction of their length and registering with the upper and lower slots or openings in said casings, substantially as set forth.

8. In a gas-generator, the combination, with a feeder comprising the hopper, a tubular casin g at the discharge end thereof, a rotary chambered valve fitting said casing to form a gastigh t joint, and aratchet secured to the axis of the valve outside of the casing, of a rocking lever provided with a pivoted pawl engaging the ratchet, a block adjustable longitudinally on the lever, and a reciprocating rod connected to said block for operating the lever, whereby the throw of the lever and speed of the valve may be regulated by moving the said block, substantially as set forth.

9. In a gas-generator, the cohbination, with afeeder consisting in the hopper, a tubular casing at the bottom thereof, a rotary chambered valve fitting said casing to form a gastight joint, and a ratchet secured to the axis of the valve outside of the casing, of the longitudinally-slotted rocking lever having a pawl engaging said ratchet, a block sliding in said slot, an adj ustingscrew extending through the outer end of the lever into the slot and engaging the block, and a reciprocating lever connected to said block, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination,with the gas-tight fuelreceptacle having a V-shaped bottom, a horizontal hollow apertured grid-like frame extending through the fuel-space above thebottom, adapted to connect with a pressureblower, a gas-tight chambered discharge-valve at its vertex, and the crushing-rolls and grates vibrated thereby between said valve and frame, of the central flaring outlet above said hollow frame, a feed-hopper on top of the receptacle, a cylindrical casing having a gastight connection therewith and with the interior of the receptacle, a rotary valve therein having a series of chambers and closely fitting in the casing, and mechanism connecting said two valves for continuous and simultaneous operation.

1 1. The combinatiomwith the gas-tight f uelreceptacle having V-shaped bottom, a horizontal valve-casing communicating with the receptacle along the vertex of its bottom and having a discharge-opening in its lower side, and the feed-hopper having a similar horizonor bed, of the central entlet-pipe having a jacketed regenerator, a pipe leading from the space within the jacket to the said perforated frame, and a blower leading into the opposite end of the jacketed space and foreingthe air therethrough into the hollow frame, substantially as set forth.

tal feed-casing leading into the top of the re- 1 JOHN R. PETERS.

\itnesses:

Geo. M. HOPKINS, (I. SEDGWICK. 

